Method and apparatus for producing fiber vessels



June ll, 1929. G, K, HQFF, JR I 1,716,554 l METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBER vEssELs Filed Dec. '7, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l June l1, 1929.

G. K. HoFF. .JR

IBER VESSELS Filed Dec. 7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June ll, 1929.

G. K. HCFF, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBER VESSELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '7, 1925 AWE/170@ Gearye #Off 71T /1//7/YESS.'

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June 1l, 1929- G. K. HOFF, JR

IVIETI'OID AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIBER VESSELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. '7, 1925 rra/PNE V5.

Patented June 11, 1929.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE K. HOFF, JR., l'OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNOR To IDEAL our CORPORATION, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A OORPORAOTION or NEW YORK. y

METHOD AND APPARATUS POR PRODOING FIBER vEssELs.

Application led December 7, 1923. Serial No. 679,179.

My invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the production of fiber vessels, for example, paper drinking cups and the like.

Heretoforc in the production of paper or liber vessels of the nature of paper drinking cups a relatively large number of operations has been requiredto form the blank into the finished cup, which not only requires considerable time for the production of a cup, v but results in a comparatively high percentage of breakage in production.

In present practice, after the formation of the blank from which the cup, or other ves- "sel, is formed, the blank in a dry condition 1s passed through a number of operations resulting in a gradual folding of the blank to l approximately the form of the vessel to be produced. The incomplete vessel is then coated. with paraiiine .and finally formed' in a mould.'

Further, the forming apparatus used" in present practice is complicated-in construction, relatively'expensive and more or less difficult to maintain 'in efficient operating condition.

Now the Object of my invention is to provide a method and apparatuscwhereby the blank, preferably, though not essentially, wet, will be preliminarily preformed in a single operation and the vessel completed immediately thereafter in a mould, to which it will be automatically transferred from the preforming device.

By virtue of my invention, the rapidity of production may bel reatly increased and the percentage of brea age in production substantially eliminated.

Further, by virtue of my invention, the preforming and finishing mechanism is comparatively simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to-produce and highlyq efficient and reliable in operation.

Having now indicated in a general Way the nature, purpose and advantages of my invention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Y 5o Figure 1 is a general elevation, partly in section, of cup forming mechanism, embodying my invention. Y

Figure 2 is a perspective view o f a preforming die and cooperating fingers.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the preforming die and the `final forming or finishing mould, showing the relative positions of these devices and of their several parts.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the preforming die indicating the forming of the blank.

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of a modified form of preforming die and its cooperating fingers.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the modified form of preforming die and fingers illustratedbin Figure 5.

Figures 7 and 8 are plan views of a partialperspective view of a finished The mechanism is supported on a frame(- work a which also supports a suitably driven whereby thev fly wheel b connected by means of a link c to a slide block e supported insuitable guides d and adapted to be recprocated verticall by the rotation of the fly wheel.

Supported by the frame a isa table f lhaving a central aperture adjacent the edge of which is a circular flange g, which forms a seat for the female finishing die or mouldk member L.

p Resting on the female mold member h is the preforming die z', provided vwith 'depending ange j engaging the die member h and with opposite-ly laterally extending ears 7c, it,

to which are secu-red the lower ends of upwardly extending guide rodswl, Z, the upper ends of which engage a cross member a of.' the frame work a.

An annular head m provided with opposite laterally extending slides n, n which engage the guide rods Z, Z, respectively, serves to support the depending preforming fingers o. Adjustable stops p,- p are provided on the rods Z, Z to limit'the downward movement of the fingers o. A cross head g is spaced above and supported on the head m.

Secured to the guide block e, by means of a slot and pin connection is a vertically eX- tendlng connecting rod r, journaled in the cross member a', and passing through the cross head g, having secured to its lower end a male die or mould member s, adapted to be vertically reciprocated. The upper end of the member s is adapted, when raised to contact with the crosshead g and lift the annular head lm. and fingers o.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the preforming die is provided with a central aperture, which is beveled and cut radially to form a series of intercepting arcuate surfaces u, and leave the bevelled surfaces o, in their extension into the aperture. Between adjacent surfaces u are provided inwardly and downwardly extending radial slots w.

The preforming fingers o, heretofore described as carried by the annular head m, comprise fiat metal strips arranged .tovextend downwardly and inwardly at' an angle to the vertical, and having their outer edges, adjacent their lower ends, cut away on an arc w.

The preforming fingers are, in the forming of a blank, adapted to move with the reciprocating annular head m until the laterally extending slides n, n, abut against the stops p, p, when they are in?, a position to cooperate with the preforming die so that when the blank is drawn between the fingers and die by the continued downward movementof the molding member s it will be folded to the form shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the female finishing die or mould h comprises a cylindrical metallic member having in its upper portion a cavity s of the form of the finished cup and provided adjacent its upper edge with an annular recess centrally of the bottom of the cavity .e and extending down through the bottom of the mould member is a bore through which extends a rod y, the lower end of which is joui-nailed in a bracket 3 and the upper end of which is provided with a circular head4, forming an extractor for the female mould. A spiral spring 5 is carried by the rod and held under compression between the bracket 3 and the adjustable stop 6,

secured to the rod, which also serves to limit the upward extension of the rod 4, by contact `ywith the lower end of the member k. The male finishing die or mould member s,

heretofore described, as secured to the end of connecting rod r, 1s 1n the general form of a frustum of a cone and 1s provided at 1ts upper the annular recess of the female member h.

The member s `is bored vertically for the i passage of a rod 8 provided with a head 9, forming an extractor. A cavity is provided in the lower end of the member s for the reception of a spiral spring 11, which embraces the rod and bears on the upper surface of the head 9. The rod 8 is provided with a vertical slot 12,v through which passes `a pin 13, secured in the members, and which serves to limit the downward extension of the rod.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, in which is illustrated a modified form of preforming die and cooperating fingers: The preforming die z" is centrally apertured and provided with radial slots w, forming a series of bevelled surfaces fv, one of each of the slots being cut away to forman arcuate defleeting surface u extending at an angle to the outer wall of each slot.

The preforming fingers, carried by a head m', comprise downwardly andinwardly extending flat members 14 to the Lower ends of which are secured fiat curved fingers 15, disposed at an angle to the members 14 and adapted to cooperate with surfaces u and v of the preforming die so that when a blank 13 is drawn between the die and fingers, it will be folded to one side, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In connect-ion with the form of preforming die and fingers, as shown, in Figures 2, 3 and 4, it is found desirable to give the male die member, which as will be described hereinafter, draws the blank through 4the preforming die, a slight turn as the blank clears the die. For this purpose, a cam 16 is positioned on the cross member a', at the .point where the rod 1' passes through it and a pin 17 is positioned to. extend from the r d so that in the descent of the rod, the pin wi l strike the cam and being deflected thereby will cause the rod and member s carried thereby to be turned slightly. A complementary cam 18 causes the rod 1 to be turned back in its upward movement, the slot and pin connection between the rod and block c permitting this movement.

In operation, a circular blank from which the cup is to be formed, is cut from the desired paper stock and in a damp or wet condition, with the parts @of the machine in the respective positions shown in Figure 1, positioned on the preforming die, as indicated at 19, with its central portion supported on the head 4, which is in its upper position. The

descend until stopped by the stops 29,117, when they are in cooperative relation with the preforming die. In the continued downward movement of the male mould member, the head 9 presses upwardly against its spring by its contact with head 4, until it contacts with the lower end of the member. Further downward movement depresses head 4 within the female mould member againstl its spring and since the central portion of the blank is caught between the two heads, its outerportion is drawn downwardly between the surfaces of the preforming die and thc preformc ing fingers, as indicated lat 10, Figure 3, which drawing operation Aserves to fold the excess material into a Iseries of folds.

lVhen the blank leaves the preforming die, it has the form shown in Figure 7 with undulations in the side walls thereof. The downward movement of the male mould member continues and the partially formed blank is pushed into the female mould member followed by the male member, which, when fully entered and assisted lby the slight turn given thereto by the abutment of pin 17 against the surface of cam 16, the deflection causing the rod r and member s to be turned slightly ,as hereinbefore described acts to press the folds, and by the entry of the flange 7 into the recess t turns a flange on the lip of the cup.

The cup is,momentarily pressed and it is preferable that"the female mould member be heated in order to dry-out the cup and effect a fixing of the folds.

yThe male mould member is now moved upwardly and the cup is carried with it. the

f bottom of the cup being held against the head 9 by the head 4. As the male member moves upwardly, its upper end contacts with thecross head Q and raises the prefoiming fingers. InAits further upward .movement it rises above head 4 and head 9 under the infiuence of its spring, las member s rises away.

from it, withdraws the finished cup from the male member. The cup isthus left clamped between heads 9 and 4until, upon the further upward progress of the member s, pin 13 lifts head 9 and the cup is freed. The yfinished Y cup 20 may then be removed by any convenient means.

As indicated, it is sometimes advisable, more especially with a preforming die of the form shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4,-to give .the male mould member and the partially being completely entered in vthe female mouldfmember and pressed therein.

Having now fully described my invention,

. what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is- 1. Apparatus for Iformihg fiber vessels com prising in combinatioma folding die, a finishing mould comprising male and female members, means to reciprocate the' male mould member in relation to the folding die and finishing mould, whereby a blank may be folded and pressed, and meansv adapted to turn the male member during its entry into the finishing mould.

2. Apparatus for forming fiber vessels comprising in combination, a preforming device adapted to fold a blank, a finishing mould, cooperating members adapted toengage the central portion of a blank, means adapted for drawing the engaged blank through the preforming device and cooperating with the finishing mould to press the folds formed in the blank and means adapted to turn said last mentioned means during its preliminary movement of entry into said finishing mould.

3. The method of forming fiber vessels comprising providing a circular blank, supporting the central portion of the blank, drawing the outcf portion of the blank over a given path of movement through a folding device whereby it is 4partially folded and while the central portion of the blank is still supported, continuing the movement of the folded blank in said path vof movement and pressing the partially folded outer portion to flatten the folds and simultaneously forming a lip on the vessel. p

4. The method of forming fiber vessels comprising providing a circular blank, supp ting the central portion of the blank, d wing the outer portion of the blank overa given path of movement through a folding device whereby it is partially folded and -while the central portion of the blank is still supported, continuing the movement off-the folded blank in said path of movement and pressing the partially folded outer portion to .flatten the folds, and simultaneously turning the edge of partially folded blank outwardly to form a flange. l

5. In an apparatusfor forming fiber Vessels, in combination, a mold, a recess therein,

at the open end of said recess and having aI multiplicity of fixed folding elements therein, a reciprocating folding device having'a multiplicity ofI fixed folding elements adapted to co-act with the folding elements of said preforming die to form initial creases in the fibrous material, a smooth surfaced molding member adapted to move longitu-` dinally'in said recess, with its smooth surface in close proximity to the inner walls of said walled recess of a configuration correspondy .ing substantially to the shape of the Varticle to be formed, a plug having a smooth outer surface adapted to cooperate with the mold to compress a pleated fiber article between the smooth surfaces ofthe mold and plug respectively, a die at the open end of said mold centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug, a multiplicity of elements carried by said die, a reciprocating device centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug, a multiplicity of elements carried by said reciprocating device and cooperating with the elements of the die to cause undulations in thel fiber sheet at that portion thereof which lies adjacent to the open mouth of the mold, means for supporting a liber sheet above the die and for drawing it centrally into the mold, means for causing the reciprocating device to approach the die and to impart initial undulations in said sheet during said approach, means to arrest further motion ofthe reciprocating device, means to cause the plug thereupon to advance into the mold and thereby to draw the fiber sheet through lthe undulating elements of the die and reciprocating device causing said, sheet, in being drawn through said elements,

to assume a preliminarily pleated character. andthen, as the plug completes its advance into themold, causing the preliminary pleats to' kbe compressed and permanently creased, and means for causing the plug and the reciprocating device to .be then Withdrawn sufficiently vfar to permit ready removal of the compressed 'pleated vessel from the apparatus.

7. In an apparatus for forming fiber vessels, in combination, a mold having a smooth Walled recess of a configuration corresponding substantially to the shapepf the article to be formed, a plug having a smooth outer surface adapted to cooperate with the mold to compress a pleated liber article between the smooth surfaces of the mold and plug respectively, a die at the open end of said mold centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug, a multiplicity of elements carried by said'die, a reciprocating device centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug, a multiplicity of elements carried by said reciprocating device and cooperating with the elements of the die to cause undulations in the fiber sheet at that portion thereof which lies adjacent to the open mouth of the mold, means for supporting a liber sheet above the die and for drawing it centrally into the mold, means for causing the reciprocating device to approach the die and to impart initial undulations in said sheet during said approach, means to arrest further motion of the .reciprocating device, means to cause the .plug thereupon to advance into the mold and thereby to draW the fiber sheet through the undulating elements of the y die and reciprocating device causing said sheet, in being drawn through said elements, to assume a .preliminar-ily pleated character and then, as the plug completes its advance into the mold, causing the preliminary pleats to be 'compressed and permanently creased, means operative at an intermediate stage of Operation of the last named means for imparting a rotary motion to the plug when the plug has advanced into the mold sufficiently to make contact with the preliminarily pleatedvessel therein to cause the preliminary pleats to be laid in the direction of said rotation, and means for causing the plug and the reciprocating device to be then Withdrawn suiiiciently far to permit ready removal of the compressed pleated vessel from the apparatus. u

8. Apparatus suchv as described in claim 6 in which the means for causing approach and recession ofthe reciprocating device toward and from the die and the means fdr causing the plug to advance into and Withdraw from the mold are cooperatively associated to pass through their respective movements as set forth, upon application to the associated means of reciprocal movement by a ,single source of power. f

9. In an apparatus for forming fiber vessels, in combination, a mold having a smooth Walled recess of a configuration'correspondingk substantially to the shape of the article to be formed, a plug having a smooth outer surface adapted to cooperate with the mold to compress a pleated iiber article between the smooth surfaces of the mold and plug respectively, a die at the open end of said mold centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug,

a multiplicity of elements carried by said die,

a reciprocating device centrally apertured to permit the free and unobstructed passage therethrough of the plug, a multiplicity of elements carried by said reciprocating device and cooperating with the elements of the die to cause undulations in the fiber sheet at that portion thereof which lies adjacent to the open mouth of the mold,- means for supporting a ber sheet above the die and for drawing it centrally into the mold, means for causing the reciprocating Ydevice to approach'the die and toimpart initial undulations in said sheet during said approach, means to arrest further motion of the reciprocating device, means to cause the plug thereupon to advance into the mold and thereby to draw the fiber sheet through the undulating elements of the die and reciprocating device causing said sheet, in being drawn through said elements, to assume a preliminarily pleated character and then, as the plug completes its advance into the mold, causingl the preliminary pleats to be compressed and permanently creased, means for causing the plug and the reciprocating device to be then Withdrawn suiciently far to permit readyremoval of the com- 10 pressed pleated vessel from the apparatus,

and follower means for causing the pleated vessel to be automatically carried out of the mold as the plug recedes and to be brought to and supported in a free position above the mouth of the mold whence its removal in a lateral direction is unimpeded.

In .testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 4th day of December, 1923.

GEORGE K. HOFF, JR. 

